Shoe tongue



A. A. SMITH June 25, 1929.

SHOE TONGUE Filed March 24, 1928 album,

Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES AMOS A. SMITH, OF TABERNASH, COLORADO.

SHOE TONGUE.

Application filed March 24, 1928. Serial No. 264,397.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoes, and particularly to the tongues thereof.

Great annoyance is experienced when the tongue of ashoe slips toward one side of the shoe, or slips down into the shoe, while the shoe is being worn.

The principal object of the present inventi on is to provide a tongue which will remain in its proper position, at all times, while the shoe is worn.

Another object is to provide a shoe tongue, which is adapted to cooperate with the lacing of the shoe, whereby to effectively prevent the ton ue slipping toward the side, or downwardly into the shoe, while the shoe is being worn.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a shoe, equipped with the tongue which forms the subject-matter of the present case.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional detail view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawing, there is shown the upper portion of the upper of a shoe. which includes the side portions 10, of the closure, each provided with the lacing hooks 11, and has the tongue 12 therebeneath. The upper end portion of the tongue is pinched together, at its intermediate point, to produce the fold 13, and secured transversely within an opening made in both sides of such told, is an elongated eyelet 14. This eyelet, as shown in the drawing, is disposed in the tongue at a point intermediate the uppermost of the hooks 11, and the pair next below, but this position may be changed as desired, as such eyelet may be secured in the tongue above the uppermost of the hooks, and the ends of the lacing string 15 passed through said eyelet, after having been with such uppermost hooks, instead of being engaged through the eyelet, before being engaged with the uppermost hooks. In either case, the result is the same, the knot or bow of the lacing serving to positively retain the tongue against any sidewise or downward movement in the shoe. The fact that the eyelet will lie between the side portions of the closure, when the shoe is laced, prevents any pressure on the ankle of the wearer, as the rear face of the tongue, which lies against the wearers ankle is flat.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with the closure and lacing of a shoe, of a tongue associated with the closure, and an eyelet secured in the intermediate portion of the upper end of the tongue lying in a plane at right angles to the plane of the closure and between the sides thereof, for receiving; the ends of the lacing prior to being tied, whereby to maintain said tongue against movement within the shoe.

2. A tongue for a shoe adapted for cooperation with a shoe lacing for retaining the tongue against movement within a shoe, comprising a body having the intermediate portion of its upper end pinched outwardly and an eyelet. secured within the thus pinched portion of the tongue.

3. The combination with the closure and lacing of a. shoe, of a tongue associated with the closure comprising a body having an intermediate portion of its upper end pinched outwardly between the sides of the closure. and an eyelet secured within the thus pinched portion of the tongue lying between the sidesof the closure and at right angles thereto for receiving the terminals of the said lacing prior to the tying of said lacing.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

AMOS A. SMITH. 

